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Chauncey wouldn't have made a difference
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Mr. Big Shot wouldn't have saved the season
The Pistons losing streak is now at five after Thursday's 83-79 loss at home to the San Antonio Spurs.
The loss drops Detroit's record to 27-26 on the season.
From 2001-2008, The Pistons average record after 53 games was 36-17. During the 2005-06 campaign, Detroit had 44 wins at this point in the season, a total they're unlikely to match this year.
This definitely isn't the same 50-win squad Detroit has become accustomed to.
Lots of clamoring has been made lately over the departure of Chauncey Billups, and how his presence would have curtail the Pistons' drop-off. Would the "Stons have a few more wins at this point in the season. Yes. But this team wouldn't be challenging Boston, Cleveland, Orlando or even Atlanta with Mr. Big Shot at the helm either.
The 2008-09 edition of the Pistons have too many holes in their ship for Billups to have stopped the season from sinking away.
Billups would have plugged a couple of the leaks - providing leadership and solid point guard play - but he wouldn't have been able to fix all of the Pistons problems.
Chauncey wouldn't have been able to provide Rasheed Wallace with a magical age-reversing elixir. Nor would he have been able to add depth to the Pistons seldom-used bench. And I doubt he could have taught Michael Curry how to coach either.
It's clear to me - the Pistons were doomed this year with or without Chauncey.
Which is why we should all be showering Joe Dumars with praise. The clairvoyance Dumars displayed with the Billups trade rivals the skills of Edgar Cayce.
If he didn't swap Billups for AI, we would be having this same discussion. Fans would be upset at the fact their Pistons were only a few games over the .500 mark. The media would barrage the hopeless fan base with articles declaring the demise of the franchise.
These fears have still come true, but thanks to Dumars there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
Instead of the Pistons trolling in meritocracy for the next three or four years while Billups, Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince play out their contracts, the Pistons have an opportunity to restock.
Sheed, Iverson and, sadly, McDyess will be gone next season. Dumars will have two manageable contracts (Rip and Tay) and a budding star (Rodney Stuckey) to build around.
And enough money to bring in any free agent he desires.
So one subpar season from the Pistons isn't that bad, considering it means prolonged success down the line.
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